Artichoke Pasta!

I am going to make this soon! It's similar to Johnny Carino's Artichoke Pasta! One of my favorites! :)


Artichoke Angel Hair Pasta!

4 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves fresh garlic finely diced
1 cup finely diced Roma tomatoes
1/2 cup finely diced black olives
1/4 cup capers
1 small jar of Artichoke hearts, halved
1 package angel hair pasta

Saute garlic in olive oil until done.
Add tomatoes, olives, capers, and artichoke hearts. Saute until done.
Serve over pasta.

You can also add grilled chicken breast if you'd like. (But I will pass on any meat! haha)

Penne Pasta~

I still need to make this recipe, but I can't wait to enjoy it! It is from Jillian Micheals book...Master Your Metabolism.





Penne Pasta



2 cups penne pasta (Ezekiel)

2 cups tomato sauce

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

8 large basil leaves

1 1/2 tablespoons dry roasted unsalted almonds finely chopped.

Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese (optional)



Cook the pasta according to pkg. instructions. Set aside briefly. In a large mixing bowl or blender mix the tomato sauce, crushed red pepper, salt, basil, and almonds until smooth and combined. Place pasta in bowls and top with sacue & cheese, if using. Serve immediately

Sour Cream Lasagna~

I received this recipe from my cousin-in-law, Devri. It is delicious! Thanks Devri!

Sour Cream Lasgna
1 pkg. Noodles
1 lb. ground beef
2 cans (8oz.) tomato soup (tomato sauce can also be used)
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup sour cream
6 green onions
3/4 cup shredded cheese
Cook noodles in salted boiling water; drain when done. Brown meat, stir in tomato soup or sauce, salt, pepper, cottage cheese, sour cream, and onions. In a 2 qt. casserole dish, alternate layers of noodles, and meat sauce starting with noodles. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes! Baking time may vary!

~Bowtie Pasta~

This is delicious! It is similar to Johnny Carino's Bowtie Festival. I had half and half in my fridge and didn't want to go get cream so I used it! It worked great and was healthier then using heavy cream! I halved the recipe for Spencer and I; it was plenty. I will add a few variations to the side:

1 oz. Melted butter

1 tsp. Chopped fresh garlic

1/8 cup Diced red onion (I used minced onions)

1/8 cup Diced cooked bacon

1/4 cup Diced Roma tomatoes (I used canned tomatoes and they were great!)

3 oz. Sliced cooked chicken

1 oz. Half and Half (I used Reed's Dairy) (Heavy (whipping) cream can be used)

3 oz. Alfredo sauce (recipe follows)

1/8 cup Mozzarella Cheese (If you would like you could use Asiago cheese instead)

1/2 tsp. Salt, pepper, and garlic salt

10 oz. Precooked bowtie pasta

ALFREDO SAUCE

1 quart Half and Half (Reed's Dairy) (Heavy whipping cream can be used)

1 cup Parmesan cheese

1 tbsp. Black pepper

1/4 cup 1% milk(2% or whole will work as well!)

Preparation

In a heated saute pan combine butter, garlic, onions, bacon, tomatoes, chicken, and spice mixture.

When onions begin to turn translucent, add half and half and mozzarella cheese.

Once cheese and half/half have reduced by half, add Alfredo sauce and bowtie pasta. Toss until well combined and remove from fire. Allow to cool for a few minutes so the cheese and sauce thicken. Top with Parmesan or mozzarella cheese! Include bread as a side! :)

To Make Alfredo Sauce:

Saute half/half, milk, and black pepper to a consistent boil. Remove cream mixture from heat and fold in parmesan cheese. Store completed sauce in refrigerator until use.

Stuffed Manicotti!

STUFFED MANICOTTI!

1 12 oz. pkg. manicotti shells
1 16 oz carton cottage cheese
1 16 oz carton ricota cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
2 eggs, well beaten
1 TBSP. parsley flakes
1 quart spaghetti sauce

Cook manicotti according to package directions. Drain. Mix together the cheeses, eggs, and parsley in a bowl. In a 9 x 13 pan, spread sauce to cover bottom of pan. Fill each shell with cheese mixture until it spills out both ends. Place shells in baking pan. Top with sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until cheese is melted.

This is a family favorite at our house! The recipe come from Famiy Dinner Cookbook!

I found this recipe on http://realmomkitchen.blogspot.com This was the recipe exactly as she had to posted.
I added how I changed it on the side!


Baked Ziti


1lb ground beef (I didn't add any Hamburger)


1 cup onion (chopped)


2 garlic cloves (minced)


1 (32 ounce) jar meatless spaghetti sauce


1 cup chicken broth


1 teaspoon oregano


1 (16 oz) package ziti pasta (cooked and drained) ( I used whole wheat pasta and it wasn't ziti, but still worked and tasted great!)


2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (I used part colby jack cheese)


1 cup grated parmesan cheese

I sprinkled FRESH PARSLEY on ours!

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet add ground beef, onions and garlic. Cook over medium high heat stirring frequently until the beef is browned. Stir in spaghetti sauce, chicken broth and oregano. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

2. Stir in 1 cup of sauce into the cooked ziti noodles. Spoon ½ of the ziti mixture into a 13×9” baking dish. Sprinkle 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese and ½ cup parmesan cheese over the top of the ziti mixture. Top with 2 cups of the sauce, then add remaining ziti mixture and top that with the remaining sauce.

3. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes remove from oven, uncover and sprinkle the top with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Return to over and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Pasta and Fruit Salad

Pasta and Fruit Salad

1/2 box bowtie pasta
1/2 box spiral pasta
4 cups boiled, diced, chicken breasts
1 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1 1/2 cup whole red seedless grapes
1 cup dried cranberries
1 1/2 to 2 cups cashews
1 (15 oz.) can tidbits pineapple
2 cups mandarin oranges
1 bottle kraft Coleslaw dressing
1/2 cup mayo

Mix all ingredients except oranges, cashews. Add the cashews and oranges just before serving.

Layered Summertime Salad!

Layered Summertime Salad

2 cups uncooked gemilli(twist) pasta (8 oz.)
8 medium green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)
4 slices bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled (I used Oscar Meyer Real Bacon Bits)
1 cup mayo
1/2 cup shredded colby jack cheese
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
4 cups bite size pieces salad greens
1 cup snow (Chinese) pea pods, cut in half
1 cup sliced cauliflower
1 cup broccoli
1 large red pepper, finely chopped (1 1/2 cups)

Cook pasta as directed on package; drain. Rinse with cold water, drain. In medium bowl, mix pasta, onions, and half the bacon. In small bowl, mix mayo, cheese, lemon juice, sugar, and garlic powder. In 3 1/2 quart salad bowl layer salad greens, pasta mixture, pea pods, cauliflower, broccoli, and bell pepper. Pour mayo mixture evenly over top. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Sprinkle with remaining bacon just before serving.

Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore

Olive oil
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 onion, cut in large pieces
1/2 green pepper, cut in large pieces
1 carton mushrooms, washed and quartered
Basil, Thyme, Oregano
1 can petite diced tomatoes
Newman's Own Marinara
1 cup chicken stock
8-10 chicken breats (salt/pepper/garlic powder)
Mozzarella cheese
Angel Hair Pasta

Saute garlic, onion and green pepper in olive oil. Add mushrooms and lightly cook. Add herbs (fresh is possible), tomatoes, marinara, and chicken stock. Set aside. (this can be made ahead and refrigerated or simmered in a crock pot until ready to cook chicken.
Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Lightly brown in olive oil. (If marinara sauce was refrigerated, warm before combining with chicken.) Pour red sauce in large lasagna dish or cake pan. Place chicken breasts on top and pushing into sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Melt mozzarella on top during last 10 minutes (optional)
Cook angel hair pasta according to directions on package (don't overcook)
When cooking times is complete pour 4 cups or so of cold water into angel hair. This will keep the pasta until ready to serve with chicken, but it will stop the cooking and it won't be sticky.
Serve chicken over the angel hair pasta!

Crunchy Asian-Style Pasta Salad

Crunchy Asian-Style Pasta Salad

1 box Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad classic pasta salad mix
1 package( 3 oz.) Oriental flavor ramen noodle soup mix
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoons soy sauce
3 cups coleslaw mix
1 cup snow pea pods, string removed, cut diagonally into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1 can (15 oz.) mandarin orange segments, drained

Directions:
1. Empty pasta mix into 3- quart saucepan 2/3 cup full of boiling water. Gently boil uncovered 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Drain pasta; rinse with cold water. Shake to drain well.

3. In a large bowl, stir together seasoning mixes from pasta mix and soup mix, sugar, oil, vinegar, water, and soy sauce. Add pasta, coleslaw mix, pea pods, almonds, and oranges; toss to combine.

4. Just before serving, coarsely crush dry noodles from soup mix; stir into pasta mixture. Serve immediately, or refrigerate.

Tomato Pesto Pasta

This recipe is from Sister's Cafe as well! It's delicious! Spencer was a little skeptically because it was so green, but he loved it!

Tomato Pesto Pasta

1/4 cup basil Pesto( recipe link on side)

1/4 lb penne pasta ( I used whole wheat and it was delicious)

1.5-2 cups tomatoes

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Basil leaves

Shredded parmesan cheese



Prepare Basil Pesto. Store in refrigerator or freeze until ready to serve. Cook pasta according to package directions. Just before draining the pasta into a colander, remove 1/4 cup of pasta water; set aside. Drain the pasta, put back in the pot, and then stir in the Basil Pesto and the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, to create a sauce. Add diced tomatoes and toss to coat thoroughly. Salt and pepper to taste. Transfer onto individual serving plates and garnish with sliced fresh basil leaves and shavings of Parmesan cheese.Makes 2 servings.